Cover for steam tables and the like



March 2, 1937. G. PARlsE I COVER FOR STEAM TABLES AND THE LIKE mmmmmmmmmw Filed May 20, 1936 l vi: 111

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Patented Mar. Z, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,072,428 COVER FOR STEAM TABLES AND THE LIKE Giuseppe Parise, Chicago, Ill.

Application May 20, 1936, Serial No. 80,655

6 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved cover for steam tables and the like which is characterized as comprising a hood or cover adapted to t on the conventional type of steam table and being further adapted to be opened or removed to render accessible the food underneath the cover by a simple lifting operation.

The cover of. this invention is further characterized as being well suited to keep the food hot and protected from dirt and contamination of the atmosphere. Furthermore, it is transparent or at least has one or more windows therein which by novel means, are maintained free from deposited moisture. Also the enclosed atmosphere is prevented from becoming fogged by steam whereby good visibility of the underlying foods is maintained for ready inspection by the customers.

The cover of this invention is further characterized as exerting a desirable action in maintaining the heat beneath the cover and particularly, at the surface of the meat or other food material so that the upper surface thereof which is usually the coolest, is maintained at the desirable hot temperature at all times.

This cover is further characterized as preventing the clouding or fogging eiect of steam in the atmosphere between the transparent portions of the cover and the food being covered so that a high degree of visibility is maintained at all times both in the atmosphere and on the surface of the transparent window material.

These advantages will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art as the following description proceeds, of one preferred embodiment of this invention which may be read in connection with the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is a side elevational View of a cover constructed in accordance with the present in- Vention;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the cover or hood shown in Figure l;

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail View in cross section taken on the line 3--3 of Figure 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail View in cross section taken on line 4--4 of Figure 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing a slight modified form of the invention; and

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 showing the hood open for accessibility of the covered food.

By referring to the drawing it will be noted that the form of invention here iuustrated comprises two pivoted sections each formed as a sector of a cylinder. One sector IU, is formed on a slightly shorter radius than the other section Il, so that by pivoting the two sectors together on any suitable mechanical pivot as at l2, the larger sec- 5 tor may be caused to overlie the smaller section I0.

Each sector is preferably formed of a metallic frame consisting of a base I3, and arcuate frame members I4, which may be formed in cross section as shown in Figure 3. Their upper ends l0 unite with the vertical frame parts i5 which with the frame parts I3 serve as radius bars around the pivotal center I2. These sectors are connected by longitudinal frame parts IB and l1 which with the curved frame portions I4 form l5 frames for receiving sheets of suitable window material. These windows may be provided by any suitable material such as glass, Celluloid, sheets of resin or other known transparent materials which are now available on the market. 2o

It will be noted that the longitudinal frames dened by the longitudinal frame parts i6 and Il and the frame parts il! are curved as represented in Figures l and 2 and that the window portions 20 thereof are correspondingly curved 25 and are thus suitably held therein. The sector Window portions 2l may also be provided at the ends so that the cover or hood presents transparent windows on all sides. This is not absolutely necessary as in some instances it may be de- 30 sirable to have the end portions made of some non-transparent material.

It will be noted that the larger section l! is provided with a handle 22 by which it may be raised by a pivotal action for rendering accessible 35 the food materials underlying the cover. At the base of the cover within the frame portion, heating elements 25 are provided preferably extending throughout the depth and the length of each sector. These heating elements may be of any 40 suitable type but as here illustrated in Figure fl, may consist of a coil of wire 26 mounted on a strip-like support and covered with insulation Eil. These elements are vsupported on insulating brackets 28 which are secured to the frame part. 45 The ends of the heating elements are connected by suitable wires 313 which pass outwardly from the cover preferably at the location of the hinge. The elements are thus adapted to be connected by a plug, or other suitable attachment to the 50 source of electric current whereby through a suitable switch, the elements may be energized as desired.

As shown in Figure 2 the heating elements of the large sector ll extend only partially down the sides which is necessary in this particular form to prevent the heating element from engaging the upright frame part l5 of the sector I When the cover is lifted. A slightly modified arrangement however, is provided in Figure wherein the sectors I0 and I I are made initially slightly higher than the sectors of the form shown in Figure 1. Consequently there are larger portions at the base of the two sectors which extend downwardly below the horizontal level of the hinge I2 so that when the cover is lifted or folded upwardly as shown in Figure 6 the heating element 25 on the large sector H' will not engage nor interfere with the smaller sector lll. As shown in Figure 6 a suitable stop 40 may be provided to prevent the upper section from folding backwardly too far.

The window sheets of glass, celluloid or other material may be mounted in any suitable way and in the simplest form, may be slipped into and held by grooves on three sides of the frame and maintained by one or more screws, bent lugs or other similar means. In this way, the window strips may be readily taken out, cleaned, and replaced, as desired.

It will further be noted that some space is necessarily provided between the large and small sectors and exists principally at the top and forms an outlet for the escape of hot air. In use, the cover is placed over the usual food pan on a steam table and with the cover closed and the electric heating elements connected to a source of electric current, the food is fully protected and maintained hot while at the same time being plainly visible from all directions.

In such use, the heating elements establish a draft of hot air free from visible Water Vapor which travels upwardly adjacent the under surface of the cover and particularly the window portions thereof. This air current forms a barrier which prevents outward passage of the steam and which maintains the surface of the glass or other window material, clean and free from fog and condensation at all times. Furthermore, due to the layer of hot air which travels adjacent the underneath surface of the cover, the heat of the food and the moisture therein is prevented from escaping and at the same time the atmosphere within the cover surrounding the food is prevented from becoming clouded with water vapor such as would impair the clear visibility thereof.

An additional result is that a greater heat is maintained at the surface of the food so that the food remains hot on top as well as throughout the lower and central portions thereof. When covers of this type are used with meats for instance, the top slice of meat, such as beef, ham, or the like, will be maintained at the desired hot temperature and will not be cooler, than the rest, as is the case when the hood of this invention is not used.

It will further be noted that the cover of this invention is very simple in construction and iS very inexpensive to manufacture and maintain,

and it is light in Weight and can be readily handled, and easily and efficiently cleaned by the operators in cafeteras and other eating houses.

Another advantage which ows from the use of the cover or hood of this invention is that there is no shrinkage of the food due to the loss of moisture. Substantially all of the moisture is maintained in the food. This further results in the maintenance of the desirable color and appearance of the food which would otherwise be impaired by the objectionable drying action which is common with all foods exposed to the air on steam tables.

I claim:

1. A steam table cover comprising a hood-like member having a transparent window therein and a heating element on the inside thereof fixed to and carried by said hoodlike member and adapted to provide a draft of hot air along the under surface of said window.

2. A steam table cover comprising a hood-like member having a transparent window therein and a heating element on the inside thereof xed to and carried by said hoodlike member and adapted to provide a draft of hot air along the under surface of said window and means providing for the passage of air out of said hood.

3. A steam table cover comprising a pair of hinged cylindrical sectors each having a heating element fixed to the interior thereof adjacent their lower regions and adapted to provide a current of warm air adjacent the inside surface thereof.

4. A cover for steam tables comprising a pair of pivoted cylindrical sector members each having a transparent Window therein and a heating element affixed to the inner wall adjacent the lower region thereof, said heating elements being adapted to produce a current of warm air along the inside surface of said windows.

5. A cover for steam tables comprising a pair of pivoted cylindrical sector members each having a transparent window therein and a heating element aflixed to the inner wall adjacent the lower region thereof, said heating elements being adapted to produce a current of warm air along the inside surface of said windows and an air vent adjacent the top of said hood through which a portion of said air may pass outwardly of said cover.

6. A cover for steam tables and the like comprising a pair of hood-like members each formed as a sector of a cylinder, said members being pivoted and adapted to permit one of said members to be lifted to give access to the interior of said cover, said members having their curved walls provided with transparent windows, and further having on the interior thereof, heating elements attached at the base of said walls and adapted to create an upward draft of warm air passing over the inside surface of said windows, said pivoted members having a space therebetween providing an air vent at the region of the upper portion of said cover.

GIUSEPPE PARISE. 

